Tool for removing piano-hammers.



J. KNURR, JR. TOOL FOR. REMOVING PIANO HAMMERS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1909.

949,905. Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

SHOT/110431,

UNITED JOHN KNURR, TIL, OF INDIANAFOLIS, INDIANA.

TOOL FOR REMOVING PIANO-HAMMEBS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

Application filed. April 7, 1909. Serial No. 488,511.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN KNURR, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, and useful Improvements in Tools for Bemoving Piano-Hammers, of which the following is a specification.

It is often desirable to remove the hammer heads from their shanks in pianos in such manner that the connection between the shank and the main portion of the jack be not disturbed.

The object of my present invention is therefore to produce a neat and simple yet etficient tool for accomplishing this result in such manner that the other hammers will not be interfered with.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of my improved tool in position for operation; Fig. 2 an under plan of the tool shown in Fig. 1 on a slightly larger scale; Fig. 3 a detail of a modified jaw construction about full size, and Fig. 4: a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 3.

In Figs. 1 and 2, 10 and 11 indicate a pair of levers pivoted together at their middles, a spring 12 being interposed between the handle ends of the two levers. The free end of lever 11 is adapted to engage the under side of a hammer head 13 and is therefore provided with a notch 1 1 which is adapted to receive a hammer shank 15. The free end of lever 10 is bifurcated to form a pair of fingers 16, 16 separated by a notch 17 adapted to receive the shank 15 of the hammer and the fingers 16, 16 may be clamped together by means of a clamping screw 18.

In operation the tool the stem 15 of a piano hammer in the manner shown in Fig. 1, the fingers 16, lying immediately below the rest rail 20 and the free end of lever 11 lying immediately beneath the hammer head 13. Fingers 16 are then clamped tightly upon the shank 15 by means of the clamping screw 18, whereupon the operator may, by pressing the handle ends of the two levers 10 and 11 together, throw the free end of the lever 11 against the hammer head 13 with sutlicient force to pry it loose from the shank 15, the tight connection between the free is placed upon have invented certain new i end of lever 10 and shank 15 serving as an l abutment to take the thrust of the lever 11.

The form shown in Figs. 1, and 2 perhaps objectionable because of possible inter fercnce between the clamping screw 18 and the next adjacent hammer shank, and the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4t may be used to avoid this difliculty. In this form the lever 10' is provided with one fixed linger 16 and one pivoted linger 16 which pivoted upon the lever 10 upon a pivot pin 19 which lies at right angles to the pivot connection between the two levers. Each of the fingers 16 and 16" is provided in its rear end with a halt socket 21 adapted to receive the tapered head 22 of an adjusting screw 23 which lies substantially at right angles to the aXis of pivot 19 but in the plane of lever 10, the said screw passing tion 24: carried by lever 10, the arrangement being such that the fingers 16 and 16 may be clamped tightly upon the hammer shank 15 by an adjustment of screw .23. A light spring 25 may be introduced between the free ends of the fingers 16 and 16 in order to normally hold them open.

I claim as my invention 1. A tool of the class described compris ing a pair of connected levers, one of saic levers having a portion adapted to engage a piano hammer and the other of said levers having a clamp adapted to receive and clamp upon a hammer shank, said levers being so connected that the hammer-engaging portion of one and the shank clamp portion of the other normally diverge a distance apart exceeding the width of the hammer rail of a piano, whereby the said two portions of the two levers may be readily straddled over the hammer rail and brought into engagement with the hammer head and hammer shank for the removal of the hammer head from its shank without disturbing the shank in its carrier.

2. A tool of the class described comprising a pair of connected levers, one of said levers having a notched end adapted to straddle a piano hammer shank and engage the head carried by said shank, and the other of said levers carrying a clamp comprising two jaws 16 and 16", one of which is integral with the lever and the other of which is pivoted relative thereto, and a member for swinging the movable jaw relathrough a suitable threaded stud or proj'ective to the fixed jaw, said levers being so eonnected that the hammer engaging portion of one and the shank clamp portion of the other normally diverge a distance apart exceeding the width of the hanuner rail, in the piano, whereby the said two portions of the two levers may be readily straddled over the hammer rail and brought into engagement with the hammer head and hammer shank for the removal of the hammer head in its carrier.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Indianapolis, Indiana, 1 this twentyninth day of March, A. D. one 15 thousand nine hundred and nine.

JOHN KNURR, JR. [n s.]

l lVitnesses: CHESTER BRADFORD, j THOMAS lV. MCMEAXS.

[ from its shank without disturbing the shank i 

